Charles Saatchi's Great Masterpieces: how Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night was the product of obsession

When Van Gogh hospitalised himself at Saint Paul de Mausole, an asylum and clinic for the mentally ill, he was allocated a studio and was also allowed to paint in his bedroom. This provided an extensive view of the mountain range of the Alpilles: it was here that Van Gogh painted The Starry Night in June 1889. He saw the night as “even more coloured than the day” and obsessively waited for the perfect night sky. Interestingly, Van Gogh had originally planned this work as a pendant piece.

Paul Gauguin was in charge of organising an art exhibit for the 1890 World’s Fair shortly after Starry Night was completed, and Van Gogh wanted it to be displayed alongside its daylight companion, his Wheatfield...